blind date

Karen stood inside the door and surveyed the bar. The tables dotted in front of the bar were occupied, groups of twos and threes lined along the walls. A large group of men stood near the door to Karen’s left, Karen glanced at them as she took a few steps towards the bar. As she walked Karen surveyed the tables, they appeared to be occupied by couples and groups. Karen was looking for a single individual, a single individual wearing a black collared shirt and a blue scarf. Karen herself was wearing a crimson scarf over a black shirt, her long auburn hair caught up in a half pony tail at the back, black, pleated skirt hung to just above her knees, crimson stockings to match the scarf. Karen had decided that understated worked best for the evening, the crimson scarf had to stand out if she were to be noticed.

Karen had never been on a blind date before and she was quite nervous. Her best friend, Sarah, had recently started seeing Mark and Sarah had decided that Karen, therefore, needed a boyfriend too. Karen wasn’t particularly fussed either way, but she went along with Sarah’s plan as she always did. She had met a couple of Mark’s friends over drinks over the last few weeks, but much to Sarah’s chagrin, nothing came of it. Karen, Sarah felt, didn’t put in any effort. Sure she talked to the men, joining in conversations with the group, chatting amiably with them at the bar, but Sarah didn’t think she was really trying. Karen figured Sarah must be right; certainly nothing ever came of the meetings, no phone numbers were exchanged, no kisses shared. So Sarah had decided that more drastic measures were needed and proceeded to arrange a blind date for Karen with one of the men from her work. So there she was, nervously searching for a flash of blue amongst the tables, hoping if nothing else happened, she at least wouldn’t be stood up.

Upon reaching the bar, Karen turned and surveyed the room again. There were two small tables in the bay window by the door that Karen hadn’t noticed before. They were both occupied, three girls sat around the table by the door. At the other a blond man sat alone, a book in his hand, a glass of beer on the table in front of him. As Karen looked at him, the man looked up, he saw Karen looking at him and he smiled, raising his hand as though in greeting. The gesture caught Karen by surprise and she glanced at his neck, no blue scarf to be seen. Karen looked back up, into his smiling blue eyes, and then quickly glanced away. She surveyed the bar again, but still no sign of a man with dark hair and a blue scarf. Instead Karen joined the queue at the bar and.

Ten minutes later Karen turned from the bar, a glass of red wine in her hand, casting her eye around for her date. Once again there was no sign of anyone sporting a blue scarf, feeling slightly irritated, Karen turned her attention to locating a spare table. She glanced at the tables in the bay window by the door. The blond man was reading his book again, the girls were laughing loudly. Karen found her eyes straying back to the blond man, she couldn’t help but wondering what he was reading. As she stood pondering, he looked up and locked eyes with her again. She felt herself blushing and glanced away, she turned her head as though looking again for a spare table, but her eyes were unseeing, she imagined she felt his eyes on her still, but when she turned back, he was once again reading.

Karen stood watching him for a moment, out of the corner of her eye she caught movement and realized the girls had stood and were getting ready to leave. Karen began making her way as quickly as she could through the tables and people. By the time the girls had left, Karen was standing by the table. She sat in the chair that would afford her the best view of the door. Karen glanced at her watch and felt a jolt of anger sweep her, it was 8.30, the date had been agreed on for 8 and her she was, sat alone in a crowded bar, watching the door pathetically. Almost on cue the door swung open, Karen looked up expectantly, in walked a trio of men, and Karen sighed and looked away. She picked up her wine glass and took a sip, glancing over at the other table as she did so. The man was looking at her, his own glass raised to his lips. He smiled and lifted the glass in salute, Karen returned the gesture somewhat ruefully. She was beginning to feel rejected and the feeling was making her angry and tearful. She took another sip of her wine, hoping she didn’t look as stupid as she felt. She knew this had been a bad idea and was definitely regretting letting Sarah talk her into it. Lost in her own reflections it took Karen a few moments to realize the man had said something and was now looking at her expectantly. “Sorry.”

“Are you waiting for someone?”

Karen sighed, “Yeah, but they appear to be late.”

“You should have bought a book.” The man said.

Karen glanced at the book in his hand. She could see it quite clearly now. “1984, that’s a good book.”

“What are you reading at the moment,” the man asked, placing the book carefully on the table in front of him.

“Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Neffinegger.”

He nodded. “The Time Traveller’s Wife.”

“Yeah,” Karen leaned forward. He’s cute she thought. “So, are you waiting for someone then?”

He smiled, “no, I felt like a beer to go with the book.”

Karen smiled in return and lifted her wine glass, “Well here’s to good books and beer.”

“And good company.”

Karen blushed slightly and took a sip of her wine.

“I’m James.”

Karen stood, lifted her wine glass and moved to his table. She stood next to him, placed her wine glass on the table beside his beer and held out her hand, “Karen.” He stood, shook her hand and they both sat.

Karen and James smiled at each other as the door swung open again, Karen glanced up and saw a tall man wearing a black collared shirt and a blue scarf. Karen looked at James, she smiled and removed her scarf.